Modular chassis adapter for rc vehicles

ABSTRACT

Implementations of a modular chassis adapter are provided. In some implementations, a toy remote control vehicle having a plurality of modular chassis adapters according to the present disclosure are provided. In some implementations, the remote control vehicle comprising a set of front wheels, a set of back wheels and a toy car chassis having a front end, a back end, a right side, and a left side wherein the front wheels and back wheels are operatively connected to the toy car chassis. In some implementations, a first modular chassis adapter according to the present disclosure is attached to the front end of the toy car chassis such that the first modular chassis adapter is positioned in front of the front wheels of the remote control vehicle and wherein the first modular chassis adapter is sized such that if an object obstructs the toy remote control vehicle while in motion, the wheels of the toy remote control vehicle do not touch the object. A second modular chassis adapter is similarly positioned and sized on the back end of the toy car chassis.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Patent Application Ser. No.62/270,817, which was filed on Dec. 22, 2015, and is incorporated hereinby reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to implementations of a modular chassis adapterfor rc cars.

BACKGROUND

The turning circle or “radius” of existing radio controlled (RC) cars orvehicles can be relatively large. Furthermore, when RC vehicles collidewith other objects, damage can be caused to the RC cars or to theobjects.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A-1C illustrates an implementation of a top, bottom, and sideview, respectively, of a modular chassis adapter according to thepresent disclosure.

FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate, a top and bottom view, respectively, of atoy car chassis having a front and back modular chassis adapter mountedthereon.

FIG. 3 illustrates a bottom view of an implementation of the toy carchassis 200 having a left and right side modular chassis adapter mountedthereon.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Implementations of a modular chassis adapter is provided. In someimplementations, a toy remote control vehicle having a plurality ofmodular chassis adapters according to the present disclosure areprovided. In some implementations, the remote control vehicle comprisinga set of front wheels, a set of back wheels and a toy car chassis havinga front end, a back end, a right side, and a left side wherein the frontwheels and back wheels are operatively connected to the toy car chassis.In some implementations, a first modular chassis adapter according tothe present disclosure is attached to the front end of the toy carchassis such that the first modular chassis adapter is positioned infront of the front wheels of the remote control vehicle and wherein thefirst modular chassis adapter is sized such that if an object obstructsthe toy remote control vehicle while in motion, the wheels of the toyremote control vehicle do not touch the object. A second modular chassisadapter is similarly positioned and sized on the back end of the toy carchassis. In some implementations, the toy car chassis may be a chassisfor any toy remote control vehicle including cars, off-road vehicles,trucks, buggies with over-sized tires, or any other remote controlvehicle.

FIGS. 1A-1C illustrates an implementation of a top, bottom, and sideview, respectively, of a modular chassis adapter 100 according to thepresent disclosure. FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate, a top and bottom view,respectively, of a toy car chassis 200 having a front and back modularchassis adapter 100 mounted thereon. In some implementations, the frontand back modular chassis adapter may have the same design. In someimplementations, the front and back modular chassis adapter may havedifferent designs.

In some implementations, the modular chassis adapter 100 comprises agenerally flat piece of material 110 having a top surface 110 a, abottom surface 110 b, a front/distal edge 110 c, a back/proximal edge110 d, a right edge 110 e, and a left edge 110 f. In someimplementations, the modular chassis adapter 100 includes a plurality ofapertures 120 extending through the modular chassis adapter 100 from thetop surface 110 a to the bottom surface 110 b for mounting the modularchassis adapter 100 onto a toy car chassis (e.g., with screws or otherattachment mechanisms). In this way, the modular chassis adapters 100may be detached from the toy car chassis. The modular chassis adapter100 may be removably attached to the car chassis in any other suitablemanner.

In some implementations, the back edge 110 d is straight. In someimplementations, back edge 110 d is mounted to a toy car chassis. Insome implementations, the modular chassis adapter 100 is mounted to thetop of a toy car chassis. In some implementations, the modular chassisadapter 100 is mounted to the bottom of a toy car chassis. As shown inFIG. 2A and 2B, in some implementations, the back edge 110 d is mountedto the front end and/or back end of a toy car chassis such that themodular chassis adapter 100 is positioned in front of the front wheelsof a R/C vehicle or behind the back wheels of a R/C vehicle.

In some implementations, the modular chassis adapter 100 furthercomprises at least two wheels or discs 130 (hereinafter referred to aswheels), attached to the bottom surface 110 b of the modular chassisadapter 100. In some implementations, the wheels 130 are discs orcircular shaped objects having an opening therethrough for mounting ontothe bottom surface 110 b of the modular chassis adapter 100. In someimplementations, the wheels rotate about an axis wherein the axis isperpendicular to the bottom surface 110 b of the modular chassisadapter.

In some implementations, the wheels 130 may be a low-profile/thin disk,or washer. In some implementations, the wheels 130 may have thethickness of or about the thickness of a penny. In some implementations,the wheels 130 may have a thickness of or about the thickness of apenny. In some implementations, the wheels 130 may have a thickness lessthan the thickness of a penny. In some implementations, the wheels 130may have a thickness greater than the thickness of a penny. In someimplementations, the wheels 130 may have a thickness of or about 0.0598inches (or 1.52 mm). In some implementations, the wheels 130 may have athickness less than 0.0598 inches (or 1.52 mm). In some implementations,the wheels 130 may have a thickness greater than 0.0598 inches (or 1.52mm).

In some implementations, the outer surface of the wheels comprise arubber or other soft material. In some implementations, the outersurface of the wheels may be any suitable material.

In some implementations, a first wheel is positioned such that a portionof the first wheel extends beyond the front 110 c and right side edge110 e. In some implementations, a second wheel is positioned such that aportion of the second wheel extends from the front 110 c and left sideedge 110 e.

In some implementations, the modular chassis adapter 100 including thewheels are sized such that if an object (e.g., guardrail of a racetrack,furniture, etc) obstructs the R/C while in motion, the wheels of the R/Cvehicle do not touch the object. Instead, the modular chassis adapter100 makes contact with the object. In this way, the size of the turningcircle may be reduced. Furthermore, the modular chassis adapter 100 mayabsorb energy when the toy car collides with an object, which can helpreduce any damage that may be caused.

FIG. 3 illustrates a bottom view of an implementation of the toy carchassis 200 of FIG. 2B having a left 300 a and a right 300 b sidemodular chassis adapter mounted thereon. In some implementations, theleft 300 a and right 300 b side modular chassis adapter may have thesame design. In some implementations, the left 300 a and right 300 bside modular chassis adapter may have different designs.

In some implementations, each side modular chassis adapter comprises agenerally flat piece of material 310 having a top surface (not shown), abottom surface 310 b, a distal edge 310 c, a proximal edge 310 d, afront edge 310 e, and a back edge 310 f. In some implementations, theside modular chassis adapter includes a plurality of apertures 320extending through a portion of the side modular chassis adapter formounting the side modular chassis adapter onto a toy car chassis (e.g.,with screws or other attachment mechanisms). In this way, the sidemodular chassis adapters may be detached from the toy car chassis. Theside modular chassis adapters may be removably attached to the toy carchassis in any other suitable manner. In some implementations, the toycar chassis may include one or both side modular chassis adapters.

In some implementations, the proximal edge 310 d is straight. In someimplementations, proximal edge 310 d is mounted to a toy car chassis.

In some implementations, the side modular chassis adapter furthercomprises one or more wheels 330, attached to the bottom surface 310 bof the side modular chassis adapter. In some implementations, the wheelsare sized and/or positioned such that a portion of the wheels 430 extendfrom the distal edge 310 c. In some implementations, a wheel is placedadjacent to the front edge 310 e and back edge 310 f.

Reference throughout this specification to “an embodiment” or“implementation” or words of similar import means that a particulardescribed feature, structure, or characteristic is included in at leastone embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the phrase “in anembodiment” or a phrase of similar import in various places throughoutthis specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment.

Many modifications and other embodiments of the disclosure set forthherein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which theseinventions pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in theforegoing descriptions and the associated drawings. For example, thedisclosure attached hereto, includes other modifications andimplementations of the present disclosure.

The described features, structures, or characteristics may be combinedin any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the abovedescription, numerous specific details are provided for a thoroughunderstanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in therelevant art will recognize, however, that embodiments of the inventioncan be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or withother methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances,well-known structures, materials, or operations may not be shown ordescribed in detail.

1. A modular chassis adapter comprising: a flat piece of material havinga top surface, a bottom surface opposite the front surface, a front edgeextending width-wise from the top surface to the bottom surface andlength-wise from the right edge to the left edge, a back edge oppositethe front edge and extending width-wise from the top surface to thebottom surface and length-wise from the right edge to the left edge, aright edge extending width-wise from the top surface to the bottomsurface and length-wise from the front edge to the back edge, and a leftedge opposite the right edge and extending width-wise from the topsurface to the bottom surface and length-wise from the front edge to theback edge; and at least two wheels attached to the material wherein thewheels are configured to rotate about an axis that is perpendicular tothe bottom surface and wherein the wheels are positioned such that aportion of the wheels extend beyond at least one edge of the modularchassis adapter.
 2. The modular chassis adapter of claim 1 wherein theback edge is straight.
 3. The modular chassis adapter of claim 1 whereinthe wheels are positioned below the bottom surface.
 4. The modularchassis adapter of claim 1 wherein the wheels have a thickness of nomore than 0.0598 inches.
 5. The modular chassis adapter of claim 1wherein a first wheel is positioned such that a portion of the firstwheel extends beyond the front edge and the right edge and a secondwheel is positioned such that a portion of the second wheel extends fromthe front edge and the left edge.
 6. The modular chassis adapter ofclaim 1 wherein the flat piece of material and wheels are sized suchthat if an object obstructs a toy remote control vehicle while inmotion, the wheels of the remote control vehicle do not touch the objectbut instead the modular chassis adapter makes contact with the objectwhen the modular chassis adapter is attached to the toy remote controlchassis.
 7. A toy remote control vehicle having a plurality of modularchassis adapters according to claim 1, the remote control vehiclecomprising: a set of front wheels; a set of back wheels; a toy carchassis having a front end, a back end, a right side, and a left sidewherein the front wheels and back wheels are operatively connected tothe toy car chassis; a first modular chassis adapter according to claim1 attached to the front end of the toy car chassis such that the firstmodular chassis adapter is positioned in front of the front wheels ofthe remote control vehicle and wherein the first modular chassis adapteris sized such that if an object obstructs the toy remote control vehiclewhile in motion, the wheels of the toy remote control vehicle do nottouch the object; and a second modular chassis adapter according toclaim 1 attached to a back end of the toy car chassis such that themodular chassis adapter is positioned behind the back wheels of the toyremote control vehicle and wherein the second modular chassis adapter issized such that if an object obstructs the toy remote control vehiclewhile in motion, the wheels of the toy remote control vehicle do nottouch the object.
 8. The remote control vehicle of claim 7 furthercomprising a third modular chassis adapter according to claim 1 attachedto the right side of the toy car chassis and a fourth modular chassisadapter according to claim 1 attached to a left side of the toy carchassis.
 9. The remote control vehicle of claim 7 wherein the wheels ofthe first and second modular chassis adapter have a thickness of no morethan 0.0598 inches.
 10. The remote control vehicle of claim 8 whereinthe wheels of the first, second, third, and fourth modular chassisadapter have a thickness of no more than 0.0598 inches.